Debate over fog-hit India Vs South Africa T20I reaches Parliament as Tharoor questions fixtures: 'Will shift all...'

IND vs SA: Lucknow T20I called off due to dense fog without toss. (PTI Photo)

Politics has flared up over the abandonment of the fourth T20I between India and South Africa without a toss after dense smog enveloped the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday, making play impossible due to poor visibility.

The issue has now reached Parliament. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla exchanged fiery words on Thursday over the scheduling of cricket matches in North India during the peak winter season.

The BCCI vice-president said greater care was required while scheduling matches in December and January. “There needs to be more attention to scheduling matches between December 15 and January 15," he said, referring to recurring weather-related disruptions during this period, according to a report by News18.

In response, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor suggested that January fixtures be shifted to Kerala, where conditions are more favourable. Shukla, however, maintained that the issue was not region-specific and pointed out that Kerala already hosts matches under the BCCI’s rotation policy.

“It’s not about Kerala. There needs to be more attention to scheduling matches between December 15 and January 15. Kerala gets matches anyway under the rotation policy," he replied.

When Tharoor reiterated his point about the winter window, Shukla quipped, “We will shift all matches to Kerala."

Earlier on Wednesday, Tharoor took to X and said the cricket fans were "waiting in vain" as hazardous conditions stalled play.

"Cricket fans have been waiting in vain for the #INDVSSAODI to start in Lucknow. But thanks to dense smog, pervasive in most north Indian cities, and an AQI of 411, visibility is too poor to permit a game of cricket. They should’ve scheduled the game in Thiruvananthapuram, where AQI is about 68 right now," he stated.

Tharoor suggested the game should have been scheduled in Thiruvananthapuram, sighting significantly better air quality conditions there.